Scott and Sandra WilliamsFarmers and Managers, Fields Restored

Scott
and Sandra Williams have had conservation at the forefront of their minds from
the day they bought their first farm, having learned from their father that care
for the land is a central tenant of farming.

“A
strong family tradition of conservation and responsible land management inspired
our father to establish a dairy operation with the intention of gradually
improving soil condition and fertility on an existing, but neglected, farm,”
says Scott. “This long range and successful commitment was passed on to our
generation and our current work is our attempt to continue the tradition,
combining traditional and sustainable land management techniques to explore
agricultural practices with positive environmental implications for the future.”

Scott
and Sandra have explored and implemented a variety of innovative conservation
practices. Most recently they began a new conservation venture called Fields Restored that aims
to stabilize 17 acres of highly erodible land while simultaneously turning it
into a diverse, perennial, specialty-crop venture. They’ve planted more than 30
species of perennials, including chestnuts, hickories, apples and
raspberries. Wanting to ensure that their operation remains grounded in
feasible, compatible practices with existing crops, they’ve kept the alleys
between rows of perennials planted with alfalfa hay. Beyond the conservation
goals, their diverse specialty-crop operation will also serve as a
demonstration and education center for conservation innovation.

Scott
and Sandra have partnered with many other farmers and organizations interested
in similar innovative practices. Partnering with University of Illinois
researchers, a portion of their new project contains a variety trial of 19
varieties of serviceberries, a native shrub that produces an extremely tasty and
nutritious fruit. With the Savanna Institute, a regional nonprofit that works
with farmers on conservation using edible perennial crops, Scott and Sandra
collect and submit monthly data on the survival, growth, economics and health
of their plants.

“We hope
that the lessons we learn through this initiative will result in production technologies
for the future that will identify underdeveloped new food sources, maximize ecological
diversity while minimizing environmental stresses, and minimize resource
application,” says Scott. “Future generations will be able to continue building
upon the information we discover and the techniques being developed here.”